Jeremy Corbyn said May’s pursuit of austerity policies and a brutal welfare regime had made things worse for the poorest in society.
Photograph: Uk Parliamentary Recording Unit/EPA

Jeremy Corbyn tackled Theresa May over rising poverty in Britain at prime minister’s questions, as he pressed her on the government’s neglect of domestic policies while the Brexit impasse continued.

The Labour leader said it was a disgrace that poverty was rising for all age groups, saying the government was a “failure in the eyes of the people of this country”.

After welcoming May’s offer to hold talks on Brexit, Corbyn said: “Can she explain why by the government’s own official figures show poverty has risen for all ages under her administration?”

He recalled May’s pledge on entering No 10 to tackle the “burning injustices facing this country”, then pointed out that since 2010 “child poverty has increased by 500,000, working-age poverty by 200,000 and pensioner poverty by 400,000”.

May claimed she was dealing with the issue by promoting a stronger economy with low unemployment.

“No one wants to see poverty rising and we take this very seriously indeed but the only way to tackle poverty is a strong economy and a welfare system that helps people into work,” she said. “That is why it is important we have the lowest unemployment since the 1970s.”

However, Corbyn said May’s pursuit of austerity policies and a brutal welfare regime had made things worse for the poorest in society.

“There is nothing inevitable about poverty, homelessness and soaring food bank use in the fifth biggest economy on Earth,” he said.

Corbyn also challenged May to commit to continuing free television licences for the over-75s.

“Over 1 million over-75s currently receive a free TV licence – a scheme established by the last Labour government,” he said. “This government transferred the scheme to the BBC without guaranteeing its funding. Will the government take responsibility and guarantee free TV licences for the over-75s?”

May replied: “We’ve been clear what we expect the BBC to do and frankly I think the BBC is in a position to be able to do that with the income they receive.”

The Labour leader highlighted the previous Labour government’s support for the free TV licence scheme, adding: “I think it should be an item of public policy not sent to somebody else to administer on behalf of the government.”

The prime minister responded: “I didn’t realise he was such a fan of the last Labour government – he seemed to spend his entire time voting against it.”